The Republican Leadership is Out of Touch With It’s Base
Why is it so difficult for Republican leaders to come to the realization that conservatism is on the rise in the United States? Judging by their recent comments it would seem the GOP’s only prerequisite for membership in the Party is a person must disagree to any degree with the Democrat Party. This attitude may have cost them two congressional seats in the recent elections.
In New York’s 23rd congressional district former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich along with the National Republican Committee endorsed the extremely liberal Republican candidate Deidre Scozzafava. Ms. Scozzafava was campaigning against Democrat Bill Owen and Conservative Doug Hoffman. The RNC spent almost one million dollars supporting Scozzafava and aired commercials against the Conservative Hoffman. Ms. Scozzafava repaid the Committee by withdrawing from the race and endorsing the Democrat Bill Owen. Mr. Owen won the contest with 49% of the popular vote to Hoffman’s 45% while Scozzafava received 6% after withdrawing. Maybe if the NRC had supported the true Conservative Hoffman he would have received the 6% Scozzafava attracted and would have been declared the winner of the election.
In California’s 10th district Republican David Harmer finished 10 points behind Democrat John Garamendi in a district that is 66% Democrat. What would the outcome have been if the Republican Committee had spent the Scozzafava one million dollars supporting Mr. Harmer? It is entirely possible the Republicans could have achieved a second victory. The Republicans instead suffered two defeats.
Newt Gingrich spokesman Mr. Rick Tyler, appearing on Fox News, suggested the only way for Republicans to regain control of Congress is Conservatives must be willing to vote for moderate Republicans.
Mr. Michael Steele, the Republican National Committee Chairman, also appeared on Fox News and stated he welcomed moderates into the Republican family with “open arms”.
Former New York Governor George Pataki told Neil Cavuto he believed Moderate Republicans should be embraced by conservatives.
Many observers have noted a recent Rasmussen Reports poll that reveals 40% of Americans describe themselves as conservative while 37% claim to be moderates and only 20% say they are liberal. Did someone hide the results of this poll from Mr. Gingrich, Mr. Tyler, Mr. Steele and Governor Pataki? I believe this is still a centrist country and most of the 37% of the people that claim to be Moderates have a tendency to favor conservative positions.
If the RNC continues to support moderate or liberal candidates it is entirely possible the Democrats will retain control of Congress. Recently a BBC correspondent appearing on MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough show expressed a true conservative’s view. She said “Conservatives want to send a message to the Republican leadership. That message is Conservatives will not vote for moderate or liberal Republican candidates even if the result is a Democrat victory”. Finally someone, a foreigner at that, gets it. Mr. Steele and Mr. Gingrich should listen to her. The era of John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Olympia Snowe needs to end at the next election cycle.
Conservatives hope the Republican leadership will take note of the results of this election and realize what conservative Americans feel. The current administration in the Whitehouse has turned this country sharply to the left and Conservatives want to shift the country back to the right. Conservatives long so desperately for this turn to the right they are willing to allow Democrats short term victories to convince the Republican Party to do the RIGHT thing.

Mr. Goodson lives in Clute, TX a suburb of Houston. Mr. Goodson can be reached at conservativeCarl@gmail.com . Mr. Goodson’s book “What is Your Government Doing to You?” is available at Amazon.com.